CRAFT businesses at Cockington Court will mark the beginning of the festive season by launching their Big Christmas Weekend complete with Torbay’s biggest Christmas tree.

The event on Saturday and Sunday (November 29 and 30) is promoted by the newly-formed Cockington Makers CIC, who stress that they are very much open for business despite the collapse of the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.

The trust manages the grounds and woodland around Cockington, but the main building is owned by Torbay Council, and the craft businesses have leases from the council.

“There has been some confusion and we’ve all had messages from people concerned that we are closing too,” said Nicola Bouchard, whose MooBoo Home was one of the businesses visited by King Charles and Queen Camilla during a tour of the workshops in 2022.

“We are all eager to let people know that we are fine, still open and going ahead as planned.”

Planning for the Christmas event began in February, and the aim is to make it a permanent fixture on the local festive calendar.

The community interest company was not successful in its bid to the council for community grant funding which it had wanted for free sessions with ’Santa in the Clouds’ for local children with special educational needs and disabilities.

“We wanted to give them an experience at Cockington that they might not usually have access to or afford,” said Nicola. “The sessions would have been tailored to the children with extended timings to include touch and feel experiences for visually impaired children, signed performances and relaxed performances for SEND children.”

The makers also want to become part of the Bay of Lights programme and will bid for funding again in 2026.

“In the meantime we are working with what we have and hope to welcome 120 children per day to our ticketed ‘Santa in the Clouds’ experience. When families arrive at the North Pole they will be greeted by their own dedicated elf who will then take them into guided craft sessions.

Children will be able to make their own decorations and cards before meeting Father Christmas.

Other attractions will include an 18-foot Christmas tree which will be the biggest in Torbay – and the largest that can be transported up the lane to Cockington Court. Music over the weekend will come from the Big Noise Chorus (Saturday at 11am), Musical Theatre Choir (Saturday at 3pm) and Mezzo Mammas choir (Saturday and Sunday at 2pm).

Harbour Bells will perform festive bell ringing on Sunday at 11.15am.

There will be hot and cold food, mulled wine and mulled gin.

“Our event is self funded, and we do not have any contribution to our budget from Torbay Council,” said Nicola. “The event budget has been raised by ourselves, tickets sales, market stall fees and some very kind sponsorship from businesses around the bay.”

For full details and ticket information click www.mooboohome.co.uk/pages/christmas-at-cockington